Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- April 8, 2015

Anna Nemtsova, Daily Beast: Russian Nuclear Submarine Goes Up in Flames

The disaster aboard the Orel is just the latest in a string of mishaps aboard Russia’s nuclear fleet.

It happened again: A Russian nuclear submarine caught fire. Reports said that the blaze was a result of welding repairs on the vessel, christened the Orel, which was parked in a shipyard for maintenance in the Arctic town of Severodvinsk. The rescue operation took hours, as people were evacuated while the Orel continued to burn. Luckily, the Orel’s reactor was shut off before the accident occurred, according to the Tass media agency, which reported that there were no weapons or nuclear fuel on board the sub at the time of the fire.

The Orel has the same design as the famous nuclear submarine the Kursk, which tragically sank in the Barents Sea in the year 2000, with a crew of 118 on board, as well as active reactors and combat weapons.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- April 8, 2015

No environmental contamination after fire on nuclear sub — Arctic city mayor’s office -- ITAR-TASS

Russian Submarine Fire Highlights The Dangers Of An Aging Fleet -- IBTimes

Russia Can’t Stop Its Submarines From Catching On Fire -- Daily Caller

First Admiral Grigorovich Class Frigate to Join Russian Navy in August -- Sputnik

Russia to Showcase Iskander Missiles During V-Day Parade -- Sputnik

Defense budget cuts to have no effect on Russia’s defense capability — lawmaker -- ITAR-TASS

Admiral: Putin's military 'far more capable' than what Soviet Union had -- The Hill

Will NATO Attack Russia? Russian-Finnish Border Military Exercises Not A Good Idea, Finland Warns -- IBTimes

Ukrainian military equipment of the future unveiled at new Kyiv exhibition -- Ukraine Today

Saudis to foot the bill for refueling in Yemen fight -- Air Force Times

How Threatening Are China's Missiles? -- Franz-Stefan Gady, The Diplomat

China's new submarines could create problems for the US Navy -- Business Insider

China is right to be alarmed by Japan's new 'helicopter destroyer' -- Kyle Mizokami, The Week

Japan to test fly F-3 stealth fighter this summer -- Want China Times

N Korea capable of launching ‘mobile’ nuke missile into US – NORAD -- RT

N. Korea Capable of Nuclear Strike at US, Military Leader Says -- VOA

New defense rules would give Japan new powers to aid U.S. military -- Washington Post

New Okinawa base fueling anti-US sentiment as DefSec Ash Carter visits Japan -- RT

US, Japan Cement Defense Ties Promoting Space and Cybersecurity -- Sputnik

Poll: Americans divided over Japan's military role in Asia -- Military Times/AP

Obama’s pivot to Asia faces a changing Chinese military -- Reuters

US Sends Flagship Aircraft Carrier to Middle East -- Sputnik

Senators Protest Delay in Survival Test for New Aircraft Carrier -- Bloomberg

U.S. Air Force eyes future F-35 engine and arms upgrades -- Reuters

US Army’s New Self-Propelled Howitzer Follows 20 Years of Delays -- Sputnik

Pentagon should rethink how it develops laser guns, study says -- Washington Post

NSA surveillance blueprint: DEA tracked US phone calls years before 9/11 -- RT

US Commander Denies US, Russia in Race for Strategic Control of Arctic -- Sputnik

GOP’s Cotton: Bombing Iran nuke sites could be done in ‘several days' -- The Hill

US Army panel to decide if former Special Forces officer will be thrown out -- Washington post

Stargate mountain: Pentagon moves comm gear back to Cold War-era bunker -- RT

Can the Military Make a Prediction Machine? -- Patrick Tucker, Defense One

Diagnosing Sleep Issues In Military Members May Help With Mental Issues As Well -- Science World Report